9 foods and drinks that cause yellow teeth

If your teeth turn yellow, it could be a warning sign of an oral health problem. However, yellow teeth can also be caused by food and drinks.

1. 9 foods and drinks that stain teeth

Here are 9 everyday foods and drinks that can stain your teeth

- Coffee

Coffee is one of the culprits that can cause your teeth to turn yellow. This is because coffee contains tannins, a type of chemical compound called polyphenols, which can cause the coloring compounds to stick to your teeth.

Additionally, coffee is acidic and can change the pH level in your mouth. This can weaken tooth enamel—the thin, translucent outer layer that covers your teeth and protects them from damage. Tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body, but it is not immune to acidic foods and drinks. Once this part of your tooth is damaged, it becomes more susceptible to staining.

- Tea

Like coffee, tea contains tannins that can stain teeth. However, you can reduce the ability of tea to stain your teeth by adding about 2% milk to your tea. Researchers determined that casein, a protein in milk, is effective in preventing tea stains.

- Berry

Some berries such as raspberries, blueberries, pomegranates and other dark berries contain black pigments that can stain teeth. Regardless of whether they are eaten whole or processed into juice, they can affect the color of your teeth.

However, berries are a healthy food, which is no reason to eliminate them from your diet. Just don't hold them in your mouth for too long or enjoy some hard cheese or milk afterwards, as these foods will neutralize the acid.

- Soda and carbonated drinks

Soda and carbonated drinks not only make your teeth more susceptible to cavities, but they can also stain your smile yellow.

Teeth stains from soda or other carbonated drinks are mainly caused by two substances: phosphoric acid and colorants. Phosphoric acid is added to soda for flavoring, but it weakens tooth enamel. When phosphoric acid eats away at your tooth enamel, the colorants can easily cause yellowing of your teeth.

- Sports drinks

Although sports drinks help your body replenish water, electrolytes and minerals, they are not good for your teeth.

Sports drinks contain a lot of sugar and are highly acidic, so they can erode tooth enamel and make teeth weak and susceptible to yellowing. This type of drink also leads to other dental problems such as tooth decay, sensitive teeth...

- Tomato sauce

The bright red pigment found in tomato-based sauces can adhere to teeth, causing discoloration. Additionally, the acidity level of tomato sauce can lead to damage to tooth enamel over time and cause teeth to become dull.

- Sweets and candy

Sweets, especially dark ones like chocolate, can slightly stain your teeth. Additionally, many hard and gummy candies contain colored dyes that can deposit on your tooth enamel and stain your teeth.

- Wine

The acid in wine can weaken tooth enamel and make it susceptible to staining from other foods. Especially when drinking red wine, the acid in wine erodes tooth enamel, then the red color of the wine can stick to the surface of the teeth and cause yellowing.

- Soy

Dark sauces such as soy sauce can also stain teeth. However, you can easily remove the yellow color on your teeth from eating soy sauce by brushing your teeth immediately afterward.

2. Other factors cause teeth to become yellow

Food and drink aren't the only causes of tooth stains. Other causes include:

- Some drugs

Some medications, such as antihistamines, antipsychotics, and high blood pressure medications, can cause tooth discoloration as a side effect.

Additionally, if you took the common antibiotics doxycycline or tetracycline as a child, your teeth may become discolored as a result.

- Brush your teeth from time to time

After many years of brushing your teeth, tooth enamel gradually wears away and thins. This causes the yellow layer of dentin underneath to be exposed, which can make your teeth look darker and yellow.

- Cigarette

Tobacco can affect tooth color due to the presence of two chemical compounds: nicotine, which is colorless but turns teeth slightly yellow in the presence of oxygen, and tar - a product of tobacco smoke condensation that is black and thick like tar.

- Infection

Infections of the tooth’s pulp – the soft core or tissue beneath the enamel and dentin – can cause discoloration of teeth. Tooth decay can damage the pulp, which in turn damages the tooth’s root and causes the tooth to appear gray-black. Root canal treatment may be needed to clean out the decay and infection.

- Dental trauma

Trauma to baby teeth can affect the developing adult teeth, sometimes causing the adult teeth to appear yellow if the enamel does not form properly.

Trauma can also make adult teeth appear darker if the enamel is worn away, exposing the naturally yellow dentin underneath.

3. Some natural ways to remove yellow teeth

Some ways to help whiten teeth naturally, remove yellow stains on teeth and give you a bright smile:

- Brush your teeth twice a day

Brushing your teeth regularly will help you remove plaque and keep your teeth bright white. It is especially important to brush your teeth after eating foods and drinks that can lead to yellow teeth.

However, be careful with brushing your teeth immediately after consuming acidic foods and drinks. Brushing your teeth right away can cause more acid to eat away at tooth enamel and lead to erosion.

You should brush your teeth morning and night every day with toothpaste, for 2 minutes each time, brushing gently in circular motions to ensure you are protecting your gums. Brush the inside, outside, and chewing surfaces of your teeth.

- Combine baking soda and hydrogen peroxide

Using a mixture made from baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can remove plaque and bacteria buildup on teeth.

Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide to form a thick mixture. Use this mixture to gently brush your teeth once or twice a week. Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after brushing your teeth with this mixture. You can also use the same ratio of ingredients to make a mouthwash. Or you can try baking soda with water.

- Use coconut oil

Coconut oil is said to remove plaque and bacteria from the mouth and help whiten teeth. Swish 1 to 2 tablespoons of liquid coconut oil in your mouth for 10 to 30 minutes. Do not let the oil touch the back of your throat. Do not swallow the oil as it contains toxins and bacteria from your mouth.

- Apple cider vinegar

Although acidic, apple cider vinegar can be used as a natural teeth whitener, but it should not be used too often.

Mix 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with 177ml of water. Then use this mixture to rinse your mouth, then rinse your mouth again with water and brush your teeth.

- Lemon, orange or banana peel

Some people believe that rubbing lemon, orange, or banana peels on their teeth will make them whiter. It is thought that the compound d-limonene and/or citric acid found in the peels of some citrus fruits helps whiten teeth.

Gently rub the fruit peel on your teeth for about 2 minutes. Remember to rinse your mouth thoroughly and brush your teeth afterward.

4. How to prevent yellow teeth caused by food

To minimize the risk of yellow teeth due to food and ensure healthy, bright white teeth, everyone should maintain the following habits:

- Minimize unhealthy foods that can stain teeth such as cigarettes, wine, sweets...

- Rinse your mouth with water after eating foods or drinks that stain your teeth and wait about 30 minutes to brush your teeth.

- Drink through a straw. When drinking dark juices, coffee, tea, soft drinks, or energy drinks, consider using a straw. This can prevent the liquid from coming into contact with your teeth.